We associate the consumption of both milk and its derivatives as basic complements in any self-respecting food routine. However, it is very common for many women, especially during childhood, to develop a series of adverse reactions to the intake of these products. These anomalies can be due to both an intolerance and an allergy, so we will have to go to the family doctor to discern our problem correctly. This step is essential, since we must understand exactly what is affecting us in order to know what the most appropriate way to handle the situation is.
Stomach aches linked to milk intake
Intolerance occurs due to an inability of the body to ingest lactose, a sugar contained in milk formed, in turn, by glucose and galactose. For lactose to break down into both basic units, an enzyme known as lactase must be activated. When we suffer from deficiency of this enzyme, lactose is not broken down and therefore goes directly to the colon without having been digested. Once in this organ, the bacteria act on the food and trigger a series of symptoms such as stomach pain, colic or diarrhea.
For its part, allergy to milk is due to an immunological reaction to one or more of the proteins that compose it. Both whey proteins and casein -both found in dairy products- have been implicated in patients with allergic responses. The symptoms caused by this pathology are gastrointestinal and usually occur in a time frame that ranges between 45 minutes and 20 hours after eating the food. The symptomatology can materialize in the form of stomach pains.
To confirm either of the two ailments, the doctor will have to order various tests to be carried out on the patients after ingesting, in a controlled manner, small doses of milk. Once the disease that causes us continuous discomfort in the stomach has been accurately diagnosed, the specialist will proceed to prescribe the most convenient medication for our case.
